Batting

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – It was billed as a match-up of two of the best pitchers in the Big West. After all, both UC Davis' Dayne Quist and UC Santa Barbara's Andrew Vasquez were both named to the National Pitcher of the Year Watch List this past week.

Well, Vasquez did his part in maintaining his miniscule earned run average and the Gaucho offense made sure that Quist's numbers ballooned.

UCSB tagged Quist for six runs in the second inning and eight overall as the Gauchos cruised to an 8-2 victory in the opening game of a three-game series on Friday at Caesar Uyesaka Stadium.

Quist, who entered the game 6-0 with a 1.94 ERA, was battered for 10 hits in his 5.1 innings and six of the eight runs he allowed were earned. His ERA jumped to 2.52.

Meanwhile Vasquez improved to 6-3 and lowered his ERA to 1.74 as he struck out eight and allowed just four hits and one run.

The Gauchos have now won four straight conference games and improved to 22-18 overall and 8-5 in the Big West. UCD falls to 15-22, 3-7.

Joey Wallace opened the game-changing second inning with a double, stole third and scored on Greg Mahle's single to tie the game at 1-1. Marc Venning followed with an infield single and Ryan Palermo chopped a double down the left field line to score Mahle. Venning came home when left fielder David Popkins bobbled the ball and UCSB led 3-1.

Joe Winterburn's sacrifice fly brought in another run and Brandon Trinkwon lined a two-run single to center field for a 6-1 lead and his team-high 27th RBI.

That was more than enough for Vasquez, who was only touched for Kevin Barker's solo home run in the second inning and after that did not allow a runner past second base.

UCSB added a run in the fourth inning when Brett Vertigan was hit by a pitch, moved to second on Lance Roenicke's sac bunt, then stole third and scored on catcher Scott Kalush's throwing error.

Winterburn blasted his second home run of the season in the sixth inning, a no-doubter to left field that ended UCSB's scoring.

The two teams continue their series on Saturday at 1 p.m. Tickets are available by clicking here, or calling 893-UCSB. The game can be heard online by clicking here or on AM 1290 in Santa Barbara with the pregame show starting at 12:30 p.m.